Bimstec Summit: A meeting between Yunus and Modi in the making?

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to attend the Bimstec Summit, to be held on 4 April in Bangkok, raising hope for a first-ever in person meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines.

Preparations are underway and the Chief Adviser will definitely hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit, a diplomatic source told UNB, without elaborating further.

Though the two countries - Bangladesh and India - witnessed diplomatic tensions over a number of issues, there is still possibility that the two leaders can meet taking advantage of the Bimstec platform, said an official, adding that nothing is finalised yet.

The Chief Adviser has so far visited the United States, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Switzerland and will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the World Governments Summit 2025 to be held in Dubai on February 11-13.

Bimstec chief highlights Dhaka's key role in deepening regional cooperation

Thailand will host the 6th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) and Bangladesh will take responsibility as the next chair of Bimstec there, officials said.

Thailand has taken over the Bimstec Chairmanship from Sri Lanka since 30 March 2022.

Bimstec consists of seven member countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Bimstec Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey recently said the Summit will have some significant outcomes. "It will set a direction for the future of Bimstec," he said.

The Bimstec Summit was earlier scheduled to take place on September 4 last year but it was deferred.

The expected outcomes of the 6th Bimstec Summit are: 

Bimstec Bangkok Vision 2030 which is one of the deliverables of Thailand's Chairmanship to

(1) set a clear direction and goals for Bimstec cooperation,

(2) identify key priorities for achieving these goals,

(3) promote BIMSTEC as a space for peace, stability and economic sustainability, and

(4) enhance cooperation on adaptation to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Rules of Procedure for Bimstec Mechanisms will put in place operational mechanisms and define the responsibilities of various structures within Bimstec.

Bangladesh calls for finalising BIMSTEC FTA 

The 6th Bimstec Summit will have a Declaration, expressing the intentions of the Bimstec leaders and actions and achievements during Thailand's Chairmanship.

The Declaration would also represent the commitment of all Bimstec member states in line with the Bimstec Bangkok Vision 2030, according to the host country.

There will be a report of the Bimstec Eminent Persons' Group which is a policy recommendation document of the panel of experts to develop Bimstec in accordance with the Bimstec Bangkok Vision 2030.

During Thailand's Chairmanship, Thailand has made every effort to ensure that cooperation within the Bimstec framework is of maximum benefit to the people, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Several concrete examples of economic issues that have been promoted include sustainable and resilient new forms of business, regional connectivity, and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Govt approves visa-exemption agreement with the Gambia, maritime cooperation deal under BIMSTEC

These efforts have enabled people to transport goods at lower costs, especially by sea, and connect entrepreneurs of all sizes to access markets in this region more easily, said the Thai government.

In terms of economic and social security, Thailand focuses on enhancing food security and public health, in order to allow us to develop cooperation in traditional medicine, expand agricultural product markets, and enhance food security with member countries.

Besides, Thailand promotes sustainable tourism in all dimensions, making tourists from India and South Asia the top targets for Thailand tourism industry.